Freeman’s Mentor Shipped Back To Steel City
April 20th, 2010
It seems Mark Dominik pulled off another backup-quarterback-for-a-throwaway pick earlier today when arguably one of the most hated Bucs players, Byron Leftwich, was shipped back to the Steelers for a seventh round pick.
Now the Bucs have 12 picks, as many as New England and the most in the NFL draft this week.
Joe never understood the hatred for Leftwich who by all accounts is a good guy. The Steelers — a team and organization far superior to the Bucs — not only wanted him, but from various reports on Twitter, welcomed him with open arms.
Yet fans in the Tampa Bay area thought more of last week’s garbage.
Now what do the Bucs have as a backup, a gimmick quarterback who looked more like he was heaving the ball downfield and praying the ball would fall into someone’s hands. Joe also remembers fairly recently the Bucs boasting how much Leftwich helped mentor franchise quarterback Josh Freeman, and Joe himself saw this with his own eyes.
So much for that idea, huh?
If the Steelers wanted Leftwich that bad — and they do need a backup quarterback since sleazy molester/flasher (allegedly) horny Big Ben Roethlisberger will surely be paying penance in NFL warden commissioner Roger Goodell’s halfway house shortly — you’d think Bucs general manager Mark Dominik would be able to pry a better draft pick out of a team that needed Leftwich than what Dominik got last year in return for journeyman backup Luke McCown.
April 20th, 2010 at 11:14 pm
Stop being so pessimistic. You come off like you are whining more than anything else. Stop bashing the decisions the Bucs make and try to find the silver lining. Its annoying every time I come on here and all I read is your negative banter. No wonder people dislike this website. Your information is good, but half of your opinions suck.
April 20th, 2010 at 11:24 pm
Leftwich “The Slug” has to get in line behind “Stone Hands” Clayton and Sabby “The Goat” before becoming the most hated Buc.
April 20th, 2010 at 11:34 pm
We were lucky as hell to get anything for Slugo. Good players are being traded for 5th round picks this year so to get anything for him sounds great to me.
April 20th, 2010 at 11:36 pm
The 7th round pick is a great pickup I think, look at it in terms of it giving us ammo to move up a few picks at some point during the draft to go after a player we need
April 20th, 2010 at 11:53 pm
You can’t understand why Sluggo was so hated, Joe? First off, he was hated, he was loathed. This might have been in part because of Rah Rah’s faux QB competition where many fans didn’t think McCown was given a fair shot when he often played behind a second string line with third tier receivers. No matter how much the pro Rah Rah press corp tried to spread the propaganda with “Check down McCown,” we still remembered a young Luke leading the Bucs to a conference championship in New Orleans with a first team unit. How about that for a reason.
April 20th, 2010 at 11:55 pm
More reasons of why he was loathed. How about a slow windup and slow feet and a propensity to be sacked while standing like a statue. How about overthrowing receivers. How many more reasons do you need.
April 20th, 2010 at 11:58 pm
How about his big advice to Freeman before his first game as reported by network analysts. “Make sure you get your picture taken alot in your first game.” Hope that helped with figuring out where the Mike linebacker was, what defense the team was using and what situation a corner blitz might be coming. GEESH.
April 21st, 2010 at 12:21 am
drdneast:
Was that the same game that Sean Payton gift-wrapped a win to the Bucs by calling some dumbass double-reverse (that was fumbled) deep in his own end with less than a minute to go trying to nurse a lead?
Somehow, Joe remembers that play better than anything McCown did.
April 21st, 2010 at 12:27 am
lovethepewter:
What would that silver lining be the past 15 months?
Jim Bates?
Jeff Jagodzinski?
A 3-13 record?
Sean Mayhem at center?
Passing on an elite wide receiver that could be had for a fifth round pick?
You might have to help Joe out here lovethepewter.
Now, if it’s considering the 2010 season a wash so that you can load up on draft picks again for the 2011 draft, in all seriousness, Joe’s OK with that. If that’s the plan, then a lot that has (and hasn’t) taken place in recent months makes all the sense in the world. Again, Joe’s OK with that. That’s how dynasties are built. Just hope those picks are good picks.
Oh, so that’s why Joe set (another) record for traffic last month… in the offseason no less! Glad you cleared that up for Joe. Much appreciated.
April 21st, 2010 at 12:28 am
This just makes way for Marc Bulger to be signed since Olsen and him have history and no other teams seems to want him at all. Isnt Culpepper still out there somewhere unsigned? Just a thought
April 21st, 2010 at 12:30 am
This just makes way for Marc Bulger to be signed
(Joe’s just yelped out loud and is now biting his hand in fear.)
April 21st, 2010 at 1:11 am
I think getting a 7th is a gift. Anything more Pitt probably would have moved on to another team. I don’t think Leftwich was one of the most hated Bucs. He did get criticized quite a bit. Some of it unfairly. I thought he played well his first start. Did all right the 2nd and played poorly like everyone else in the 3rd start. What exactly did he have to work with? The Bucs were working in KW into the offense. AB was limping around and not at full strength. The OL was horrible. Even the golden boy wouldn’t have done that much better than Leftwich. Clayton was much more hated than Leftwich. G. Adams was more hated than Leftwich. Hopefully J. Stevens is more hated than Leftwich for other reasons.
When did Luke McCown lead the Bucs to a conference championship?? Was I in a coma when that happened? Yeah he was the starter for them against NO when they won in Week 13. As Joe pointed out, the Bucs needed a gift from Sean Payton to win that game. McCown practically lost the game with a pick 6. And he was also 1-2 in starts that year, so that isn’t exactly winning the “conference” championship for the Bucs. I guess he meant the divisional title. Garcia won the division title for the Bucs that year.
All in all a decent trade. Josh Johnson is a fine backup. He has starting experience and he knows the offense. I think you need a QB with mobility to run this offense effectively, so Leftwich was the odd one out.
April 21st, 2010 at 6:44 am
As I said when he was signed, every moment, every meeting, every play Leftwich was taking part in for the Bucs was a moment, a meeting and a play wasted.
It was a terrible pick-up, a terrible choice for starter, and he had nothing to teach anyone about playing QB, and most of all it was an unnecessary distraction.
Good for the steelers, glad they want him.
I would have given them a 7th rounder to take him.
April 21st, 2010 at 6:56 am
Joe you pessimist! Here’s the silver lining:
Bucs win draft war – the most picks in the 2010 draft has the Bucs at the top of the pack!
After all that 1st 5th round pick will be better than Santonio Holmes so imagine how good these 7th rounders will be?
April 21st, 2010 at 7:09 am
You go Joe! Be careful though, you might get JimBuc wound up and in an all day argument with you challenging your reading comprehension.
April 21st, 2010 at 7:38 am
That Saints game was during one of those disgraceful/humiliating division Title years. Didnt the bucs go for it on fourth down with a pitchout play to Graham?
I am soooooooooo glad things like that are behind us.
Those jerks didnt win at least ten games!
April 21st, 2010 at 7:52 am
“thats how dynasties are built”…………..or the Detroit Lions.
April 21st, 2010 at 8:15 am
LOL!
April 21st, 2010 at 8:24 am
Hate has nothing to do with whether you are a good guy OFF the field , it has to do with how bad you suck ON the field.
I’m sure Sabby the Goat is a great guy off the field , but Joe still hates him … follow he logic ??
As for Leftwich ….told ya we wouldn’t get better than a late round pick for him. Those who wan’t Sweed were wishful thinking..
April 21st, 2010 at 8:25 am
I wonder what the Bucs could get for Raheem Morris? I’d take a ham sandwich at this point…
April 21st, 2010 at 8:26 am
I think JimBuc is the alias for Steve Dumeg…no one else in Tampa Bay is (Take is easy — Joe.) defending the regime that hard except for him. LOL
April 21st, 2010 at 8:30 am
Radio Mushmouth:
Joe doesn’t hate Sabby the Goat. Joe does admit Sabby the Goat’s play gives him irritable bowel syndrome.
In a perverse way, Sabby the Goat is good to Joe. He provides so much fodder for content.
April 21st, 2010 at 9:10 am
@lovethe pewter. “no wonder people don’t like this website..” Speak for yourself, asshole! What other website can you express feelings about the Bucs in? Unfortumately, the 3 scrooge Sons have turned our Bucs into every Pro team’s practice squad. If you don’t like the site, then don’t read the articles! In fact, stay the hell off it.
April 21st, 2010 at 9:18 am
tampa2:
Thanks for watching Joe’s back man. Much appreciated. Joe’s not offended with lovethepewter. Joe knows he’s not everyone’s cup of tea.
April 21st, 2010 at 9:19 am
I am not sure Lefty was a great “mentor” to Freeman. Lefty was a good character guy and a good locker room guy, but he was not a worker according to Morris. Not a “I will see you at 5 a.m.” guy.
April 21st, 2010 at 9:20 am
RM — no need to respond to you of all people.
April 21st, 2010 at 9:21 am
Jake — you’re a class act.
April 21st, 2010 at 11:27 am
Jake, Don’t worry man. According to JimBuc, I’m a class act too, lol!
tampa2, I have to agree. If you don’t like something quit reading, change channel, go away, or whatever. Free country, that’s what makes this place we live a great place. Besides, aren’t people that are complaining about anybody with disagreements against the team or people that are complaining about complaints or disagreements, just a little hypocritical?
Just because I disagree with some of these moves and/or non-moves, doesn’t make me any less of a fan or a bandwagoner either. Didn’t know someone with concerns or cares about something isn’t a said fan? If I didn’t care, then I would be fairweathered or a bandwagoner! Maybe I’m looking at it all wrong?
April 21st, 2010 at 12:38 pm
Jake, you probably should take note of OAR’s defense. OAR is one of the most ardent haters on the planet. His mindless hate can be found on many platforms. Interesting that you have his “seal of approval.” That’s nice. It think Tampa2 has also gone on record here and elsewhare saying that he believes Dan Sileo’s lie about the Glazer’s and Madoff. Isn’t that right Tampa2? You’re in good hands Jake.
April 21st, 2010 at 2:08 pm
JimBuc, “OAR is one of the most ardent haters on the planet. His mindless hate can be found on many platforms.” WHAT??!! REALLY??!! As you guys say, where’s the proof? Show me!
April 21st, 2010 at 2:11 pm
JimBuc, BTW I didn’t know 2 was “many”, LOL! Sorry but I only blog on 2 this one and the St Pete Bucs blog.
Go ahead and make some more stuff up. I’m a big boy and survived the Culverhouse years so I can take anything!
April 21st, 2010 at 2:22 pm
JimBuc, And what’s with the “seal of approval” crap? I let someone else know you called them “class act” too and now I’m handing out stamped gold seal of approvals? Please!
April 21st, 2010 at 8:13 pm
Was that it Joe. Was that all. Yes, I remembered the same play. It was definitely and stupid call, but things like that happen all the time in games. After the fumble, I remember Luke taking the team down for the winning score and TD pass. I don’t think Luke was the next Johnny U, but he was never given a fair chance in the so called “QB competition.” If you think he was, then you really need to lay off the Caybrew.
April 21st, 2010 at 9:31 pm
OAR — three responses = struck nerve. Your body of work is there for the whole world to see and is speaks for itself (LOUDLY)
April 22nd, 2010 at 8:34 am
JimBuc, That’s just what I thought. Whatever!